Photo by Vickie Pleiss Jensyn Rudolph

Courtesy Photo/Image

Photo by Vickie Pleiss Andrew VanVelson and Jensyn Rudolph

A huge cast will present the famous musical “South Pacific” this weekend at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Theater.

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The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. March 7-8 and at 2:30 p.m. March 9.

Jensyn Rudolph as Navy nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush heads a 41-member cast.

Andrew VanVelson plays the male lead role of Emile de Becque, a French plantation owner.

In the story, two couples, thrown together in World War II, fall in love. In the backdrop, a group of sailors stand by for action while looking for ways to spice up their bored restlessness.

The couples want to get married, but differing racial backgrounds put a damper on their love. Dejected and with nothing to lose, the two men in the romantic leads go on a dangerous mission behind Japanese lines and successfully send back reports on enemy forces. A military operation results, and the previously idle group of sailors go off to battle with sobering consequences.

The story is full of frivolity, drama, inventiveness, determination and emotion. It is based on two short stories by noted author James A. Michener from the book Tales of the South Pacific, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948. The musical itself won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950.

The Rogers and Hammerstein musical includes many well-known songs, including “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There’s Nothing Like a Dame” and “I’m Going to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair.”

VanVelson carries on a family tradition of starring in the play. His mother Vickey VanVelson had a lead role in a 1983 North Platte Community Playhouse production.

The big cast has been in rehearsals since early January.

“This is a much larger cast than normal, which brings lots of fun,” director Leah Purdy said. “This is a great family show.”

The musical debuted in 1949. It is timeless and still touring, currently through the United Kingdom. A recent 2005 Carnegie Hall production featured country music superstar Reba McEntire as the female lead.

The rest of the cast, in leading roles, are Jessica Shore, Michael Simpson, Erik Gosnell, Kayla Decker, Lauren Lopez, Dillon Johnson, April Carl and Cassie Marshall.

Military personnel are portrayed by Dallas Hardy, Way Odle, Collin Shepherd, Jeff Lopez, Seth Fornander, Nick Borges, Craig Cullinan, Rick Poppe, Casey Wroot, Andrew Sodawasser, Jake Conley and Nate Vieyra.

The chorus of nurses and native girls are: April Carl, Hannah Hokanson, Alison Davis, Alisha Skiver, Kate Hergenrader, Brianna Smith, Traci Marsh, Makenzie Deutschman, Raven Berggren, Crystal Bowers, Amber Willard, Stephanie Benes, Kelsey Foote, Katelynn Moore, Kristina Haws, Brandi Wright, Morgan Nelson, Emily Sughroue and Jaci Hansen.